On the natural α-activity of the air near the ground Part A.Method of Measuring and a few Preliminary Results

Abstract
A method has been developed by which the concentration of the natural ?-activity of the air near the ground can be studied over a wide range of variation. The method is based on an aspiration process. The apparatus is mainly used in order to measure rapid fluctuations of the ?-activity of the air near the ground. The preliminary results presented in this paper show a connection between the fluctuations of the natural ?-activity and the temperature probably due to a connecting link—the vertical motion. Further simultaneous measurements of the natural ?-activity and the temperature in the layer up to 3 metres above the ground have been made. The gradients were fairly steep near the ground and decreased rapidly with height. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1972.tb01564.x